SYMPTOMATIC MANAGEMENT GUIDELINES FOR NON-HEALTH STAFF

Behavior changes/Unusual Behavior

Authorized non-health staff may manage changes in behavior or unusual behavior as follows:

1.  If the behavior is obviously dangerous or threatening to self and/or others, first ensure safety. Call center security and/or local police. Remove the student in question or remove other students from the area. Do not leave student alone.

2.  If the student expresses thoughts of harm to self and/or others or has made any suicide gesture, follow Symptomatic Management Guideline for Suicide Attempts or Threats. Do not leave student alone.

3.  If student’s thoughts are jumbled, strange, “crazy”, etc., seek assistance from appropriate staff to help transport student to health and wellness center. If after hours or weekend, contact on-call health and wellness staff and follow instructions from on-call health staff, which may include transportation to closest emergency facility. Do not leave student alone.

4.  If the student is socially responsive and cooperative, move the student to a private area for assessment. Share your observations and concerns with the student in a supportive and concerned fashion. Contact health and wellness staff about your concerns.

5.  If alcohol or drug use is suspected, follow the Symptomatic Management Guideline for Alcohol and Drug Use Behavior.

6.  If the student expresses sadness but is not stating that they want to harm themselves or no longer want to live, be supportive and refer to counselor or health and wellness center (HWC) for further evaluation and intervention by the counselor, center mental health consultant (CMHC) and/or center physician (CP). If after hours or weekend, contact the on-call health and wellness staff.

7.  After this episode has been resolved, talk to other students who may have witnessed or been involved and provide limited structured information about the situation and its resolution. Privacy rights must be protected. Provide assurances about safety, both theirs and the student in question.

WHEN TO CONTACT THE ON-CALL HEALTH AND WELLNESS STAFF

·  If the student exhibits depression, psychotic behavior (unusual thoughts and/or odd behaviors or dramatic changes in behaviors), or expresses the desire to hurt self and/or others or appears severely confused

June 2017